Ambassador, Head of the European Union Delegation to Ukraine Hugo Minarelli hopes that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine will allocate the necessary additional funds for Public Broadcasting. He said that the European Union is ready to invest several million euros in the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (NOTO). Swedish Ambassador Martin Hagstrom added that over the next few years, €3.5 million will be allocated for the development of regional broadcasting.

Hugo Minarelli and Martin Hagstrom announced this on April 7 during the international conference “Independence of Public Broadcaster Management Bodies - a Key Prerequisite for Successful Reform”.

“Public broadcasting requires adequate resources. This means there must be a defined budget. We hope that an additional budget will be allocated so that Public Broadcasting can operate. For our part, we, with the EU member states, are ready to invest several million euros to ensure that there is a proper newsroom and that the Public Broadcaster can operate in proper conditions,” said Hugo Minarelli.

He added that EU representatives will monitor the situation with Public Broadcasting daily and ensure that the newly elected Chairman of the NOTO Board and his team are independent and competent, dedicated to the interests of the Public Broadcaster, and that there are adequate resources.

“Together with the Ukrainian people, we want to ensure high-quality Public Broadcasting,” said the Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

Hugo Minarelli noted that a huge part of the media in Ukraine is in the hands of groups pursuing their economic interests. “Moreover, next to Ukraine is a country that is conducting a powerful disinformation campaign. And this makes the role of an independent broadcaster, which must provide Ukraine with high-quality information, even more important,” he added.

Martin Hagstrom said that the Swedish Embassy is considering supporting regional broadcasting. Swedish television and radio will join this project. The Swedish Embassy is ready to help develop regional broadcasting based on Swedish experience, adapting it to Ukrainian needs.

“The product in question is €3.5 million, which will be allocated over the next few years,” the Swedish Ambassador emphasized.

It should be recalled that on April 10, the supervisory board of the National Public Broadcasting Company elected Zurab Alasania as the Chairman of the Board of Public Broadcasting.

Source: “Suspilne Movlennia”